Artificial Intelligence

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Technology, machines, and software that have the ability to be self-directed and learn from their actions are generally known as artificial intelligence. In the early days of computing, RAND researchers examined and tried to develop such technology and apply it for use in political and military simulations.

  • AI robot pressing a nuclear launch button.

    Article

    How Artificial Intelligence Could Increase the Risk of Nuclear War

    Apr 24, 2018

    Advances in AI have provoked a new kind of arms race among nuclear powers. This technology could challenge the basic rules of nuclear deterrence and lead to catastrophic miscalculations.

  • Face detection and recognition

    Commentary

    Keeping Artificial Intelligence Accountable to Humans

    Aug 20, 2018

    Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are often only as intelligent and fair as the data used to train them. To enable AI that frees humans from bias instead of reinforcing it, experts and regulators must think more deeply not only about what AI can do, but what it should do—and then teach it how.

Explore Artificial Intelligence

  • Robots working with cardboard boxes on a conveyer belt

    Commentary

    AI's Promise and Risks

    Artificial intelligence seems to be advancing faster than efforts to understand its potential consequences, good and bad. And discussions about AI often veer toward extremes. More balanced, rigorous analysis is needed to help shape policies that mitigate AI's risks and maximize its benefits.

    Oct 24, 2017

  • Scales of justice in front of computer monitors with code

    Commentary

    The Intersection of Algorithms and an Individual's Rights

    Data collection, and our reliance on it, have evolved extremely rapidly. The resulting algorithms have proved invaluable for organizing, evaluating and utilizing information. How do individuals' rights come in to play, when data about their lives is compiled to create algorithms, and the resulting tools are applied to judge them?

    Sep 29, 2017

  • U.S. ground troops patrol while robots carry their equipment and drones serve as spotters

    Commentary

    Artificial Intelligence and the Military

    AI has many possible applications for the military, such as providing unpredictable and adaptive adversaries for training fighter pilots. But what are the implications of AI adoption?

    Sep 7, 2017

  • Periodical

    Periodical

    RAND Review: July-August 2017

    This issue highlights recent RAND research on the prevalence and burden of chronic health conditions; on the economic benefits of U.S. overseas security commitments; and on what RAND is doing to anticipate emerging global security challenges.

    Jul 11, 2017

  • A green globe illustration

    Q&A

    Global Risks in 2040: Q&A with Andrew Parasiliti

    Andrew Parasiliti discusses how the RAND Center for Global Risk and Security is envisioning the world in 2040, and the security challenges that will shape it.

    Jun 30, 2017

  • Humanoid robot touching a computer screen

    Report

    The Risks of Bias and Errors in Artificial Intelligence

    Machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) influence many aspects of life today. These agents are not exempt from errors or bias because they are designed, built, and taught by humans. While AI has great promise, using it introduces a new level of risk and complexity in policy.

    Apr 5, 2017

  • Events @ RAND Audio Podcast

    Multimedia

    What Is the Future of Artificial Intelligence?

    In this Events @ RAND podcast, a panel of experts discusses the role of AI in society, including its incredible promise and the pressing concerns it presents.

    Dec 14, 2016

  • The autonomous ship "Sea Hunter" is shown docked in Portland, Oregon before its christening ceremony April 7, 2016

    Commentary

    Killer Robots: Moral Concerns vs. Military Advantages

    The U.S. military should balance Americans' ethical concerns over computers making life and death decisions with the need to maintain an edge in the face of rapid advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning across the globe.

    Nov 4, 2016

  • Aerographer's mates stand by as an unmanned underwater vehicle leaves the surface to search for mines as part of a training exercise

    Commentary

    The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Intelligence Agencies

    The defense community has already begun a healthy dialogue about the ethics of AI in combat systems. The intelligence community should develop standards for AI risk assessments and assign responsibility for conducting them.

    Jul 18, 2016

  • The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Legged Squad Support System can relieve troops of their 100-pound equipment load, take voice commands, and maneuver around obstacles, in addition to numerous other tasks in the field

    Commentary

    Should We Fear an AI Arms Race?

    Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and others signed a letter calling for a ban on the application of artificial intelligence to advanced weapons systems. AI weapons are not without risks, but the benefits are substantial and the risks can be mitigated with more moderate regulation than a ban.

    Feb 8, 2016

  • The humanoid robot AILA (artificial intelligence lightweight android) operates a switchboard during a demonstration at the CeBit computer fair in Hanover, Germany, March, 5, 2013

    Commentary

    How to Overcome the Risks of Artificial Intelligence

    The warnings and promises of artificial intelligence aren't new, but advances in technology make them more pressing.

    Oct 22, 2015

  • Illustration of a game show with three players and a host, image by Olga Kurbatova/Getty Images

    Blog

    Test Your RAND Knowledge on Jeopardy!

    RAND was once a category on the long-running TV game show Jeopardy! How much money could you have won? Take the quiz and find out.

    May 5, 2015

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Computer-assisted Reasoning

    Computer models provide a powerful tool for reasoning about difficult problems.

    Jan 1, 2001

  • Report

    Report

    Thinking About Opponent Behavior in Crisis and Conflict: A Generic Model for Analysis and Group Discussion

    Draws on strategic analysis, cognitive psychology, gaming, and artificial intelligence modeling to describe a theory and concrete methodology for thinking about the likely and possible reasoning of opponents before or during crisis and conflict.

    Jan 1, 1991

  • Report

    Report

    The Nature of Modeling

    This Note, reprinted from Artificial Intelligence, Simulation, and Modeling, Widman, Loparo, Nielson (eds.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1989, attempts to define modeling precisely.

    Jan 1, 1989

  • Report

    Report

    Applying Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Strategic-Level Gaming and Simulation

    This Note describes a large-scale program melding rule-based modeling and traditional simulation in the problem domain of game-structured military strategic analysis.

    Jan 1, 1988

  • Report

    Report

    Dependencies, Demons, and Graphical Interfaces in the Ross Language

    This Note is one aspect of RAND's investigation of the utility of knowledge-based artificial intelligence techniques to help solve deficiencies that exist in large-scale military simulations.

    Jan 1, 1988

  • robot head and computer graphics

    Report

    A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence

    A brief history of RAND's research in artificial intelligence (AI) and expert systems from the development of one of the first stored-program digital computers, the JOHNNIAC, to the current work on AI technology and its uses, including work on expert systems, knowledge-based simulation, and human-oriented environments.

    Jan 1, 1986

  • Report

    Report

    Applying Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Strategic-Level Gaming and Simulation

    Describes a large-scale program melding rule-based modeling and traditional simulation in the problem domain of game-structured military strategic analysis in the RAND Strategy Assessment Center.

    Jan 1, 1985

  • Report

    Report

    Potential applications of expert systems and operations research to space station logistics functions

    This Note is the final report of an assessment study to determine the applicability of operations research, artificial intelligence, and expert systems to logistics problems for the space station, which must support multiple systems using only on-boa...

    Jan 1, 1985

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